On Monday afternoon, the Jets signed veteran free agent punter Matt Darr.
Darr played five games for the Bills last season. Before that he played under Adam Gase in Miami for two seasons and familiarized himself with New York’s new head coach.
The Jets already have a starting punter that was drafted by Mike Maccagnan in Lachlan Edwards, someone who has come into his own entering his fourth season. Darr was brought in as the potential camp competition for Edwards, but should by no means be considered a favorite for the job.
With that being said, let’s get to know the Jets’ newest punter.
Adam Gase Connection
Matt Darr signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent following the 2015 NFL draft.
Darr beat out incumbent starter Brandon Fields and was the Dolphins punter for the better part of two seasons. When Adam Gase took over as head coach and controlled the 53-man roster, Darr remained the starting punter for the 2016 season. However, he was waived before the 2017 season.
Top College Punter
In 2014, when Matt Darr was a senior, he was announced as a candidate for the Ray Guy Award, presented to the nation’s top punter.
Darr tied for the SEC lead in punts inside the 20-yard line with 20. In 13 games with the Tennessee Volunteers in 2014, he punted 80 times for a 42.2-yard average with 30 punts inside the 20-yard line and 21 punts of 50 or more yards.
Standout High School Athlete
A three-star recruit out of Bakersfield, California, Matt Darr was the fourth-ranked punter in the country, according to Rivals. He was rated the nation’s No. 1 punting prospect by punting expert Chris Sailer.
Additionally, Darr was a state champion in track. He was a two-time defending state champion in the shot put and also won a state discus title as a junior.
For Darr’s combined efforts in football and track, he was named a finalist for MaxPreps National Athlete of the Year in 2008.
AFC East Merry-Go-Round
When Matt Darr signed with the Jets on Monday morning, it became his third stop in the AFC East.
For Darr, completion of all four stops will probably end in green and white, as New England has had Ryan Allen as its punter since 2013 and just drafted another in the fifth round.
